I think it’s important to first make a distinction between career growth potential and career growth possibility. Because, without this distinction, these facts are just words.

Potential vs. Possible

Career growth potential leverages your ability and talent to increase your responsibilities. The result of such leveraging may be a promotion from a Sr Sales Associate to a Regional Sales Manager. Potential is often the response you provide when asked the inevitable interview question, “Where do you see yourself in 5 years?”. And, because those of us in the same industry share similar abilities and talents, we often have the same response.

Meanwhile, career…

As the festivities of Ryder Cup, one of the most exciting and engaging sporting events, concluded yesterday, the nature of the event got me thinking. What is the PGA doing so right that the NFL is doing so wrong?!?

For starters, it isn’t an apples to apples comparison. There are clearly some core differences between the sport of golf and football. One is an individual sport, the other a team sport. One is baked in tradition and history, the other a little less so. One is international and (for the most part) inclusive, the other not so much. …

Well done marketing connects with the intended audience. Like a good earworm, the message, the imagery and the brand find their way back in to your thoughts and dreams. That connection hit me like the best shareable appetizer during the cheesiest of times…the fourth quarter of Super Bowl 47 in 2012. Black and white photography took over the tv screen. A welcoming yet rough voice started in, “And on the eighth day, God looked down on his planned paradise and said, ‘I need a caretaker.’ So God made a farmer.” …

In this post, I’ll cover what an executive sponsor is and why the best new products can wait until the last possible moment to engage with leadership.

Before I begin, it should be noted that for years I’ve steered many ships across organizational oceans while gathering feedback, analyzing, designing, implementing and socializing new products. That experience is the primary influence of the following post.

Executive sponsors are vital to any new product discovery. When successful, they will aid in the following:

• They will contribute to the outcome of your discovery with tactical and leadership intelligence
• They will provide support for when you are asked why you are dedicating time to this new effort
• They will socialize your product to other necessary teams or leaders you may not…